The Struggle
The Struggle - Pastor Matt Miofsky, The Gathering
All content is credited to The Gathering Now in St. Louis, MO.
SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 5:6-9 CEB
“Therefore, humble yourselves under God’s power so that he may raise you up in the last day. Throw all your anxiety onto him, because he cares about you. Be clearheaded. Keep alert. Your accuser, the devil, is on the prowl like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith. Do so in the knowledge that your fellow believers are enduring the same suffering throughout the world.”
MAIN TAKE-AWAY:
We don’t often approach the world from a spiritual lens. We might view our circumstance through a social, logical, or science lens. This idea of embracing the supernatural influence in our lives is a less common mindset and requires a bit of stretching on our part. Scripture reminds us that we live in a world where there is more than what we can tangibly see or feel.
There are spiritual forces at work in the world that draw us closer to God, and forces that draw us farther from God. We all fall somewhere in the middle, living with our hypothetical angels and devils on our shoulders. Every day, we recognize that the struggle is real. We operate in a constant push / pull around the person we’re called to be. Do we draw closer to, or further from, God?
When you decide to make steps toward Jesus, big or small, you will begin experiencing this struggle. The closer we draw to Jesus, the more we strive to align our lives with the mission of God, or when we choose to take that leap of faith, those evil forces will rise up to stop us. It can often feel like you’re running against the wind. Have you ever experienced this?
Becoming who we’re called to be was never promised to be easy. Jesus does, however, assure us it’s worth it. God promises us a life greater than we could ever ask or imagine, but God does not promise it will be simple. When we step out into the world, we must stay aware. Over time, we can learn to strengthen our spiritual awareness, leaning closer to God in the struggle rather than pulling away.
SEASONS OF VULNERABILITY:
1. SEASON OF STRENGTH:
It might seem counter-intuitive, but we’re often more susceptible to being pulled from God during seasons of strength. Think about it - it’s easy to need God in times of turmoil or trouble. It’s difficult to understand why we might need God when it seems that everything is under control. This season produces confidence, which can easily grow into over-confidence, which is what births pride in our lives. Pride over time pulls us further from our relationship with God.
Anecdote: Humility. Verse 6.
When we recognize that there’s something greater than us in the universe, we can assume a posture of humility. Humility looks like: teachability, asking for help, carrying a sober view of self, seeking support, advice or council. Humility reminds us that we aren’t invincible. There is need for God in our lives. It also reminds us that this relationship isn’t just about needing things from God. Even in the good seasons, relationship exists.
Can you think of a time pride / seasons of strength pulled you away from God?
What are some examples of pride that you experience?
What action(s) can you / do you take to prioritize God in good seasons?
Would you consider yourself humble before God? Why / Why not? What would it take to grow in those areas, and how can you make active steps to accomplish this?
2. SEASON OF TRANSITION:
Inertia is the idea that items at rest or in motion remain in that state until an external force comes along and changes that state. When change occurs in your life, it interrupts the path you’re on. This shift sets us on another path and causes us to feel resistance. This resistance is especially prevalent when we make steps toward the person or purpose God has called you too. This push-back appears often when you’re on the brink of something big with God.
Anecdote: Readiness. Verse 8.
The best way to prepare for incoming resistance is to expect it. This is a concept Jesus talks about often. He was constantly reminding the disciples to stay awake and diligent in prayer. If you’re constantly prepared for taking steps toward things that bring resistance, it all becomes possible to face.
What’s an example of transition you’ve experienced? How did it impact your relationship with God?
Can you think of an example of resistance you’ve experienced?
What steps can you take to prepare for resistance? What spiritual practices do you currently engage with? What can you grow in?
3. SEASON OF STRUGGLE:
Struggle can look so many ways. For some, its trauma or loss. For others, its burnout. One of the largest visible markers of struggle is isolation. Lions, like the scripture describes, look for those isolated from the pack. They circle and wait for a moment to attack. Much like lions, those negative forces wait for moments of isolation to pull us away from God.
Anecdote: Connectedness. Verse 9.
We are less susceptible to isolation when we’re engaged and connected to a Crew (community). These people can circle around us, support us, and refocus us as we move closer to God and further in our CLIMB. Staying connected takes work. It’s the opposite of our initial instinct to isolate ourselves in times of overwhelm. Jesus presents the image of The Vine and The Branches. When we stay connected to Jesus, both individually and via those in our community, we grow more powerful. Connectedness keeps us strong.